Broom-corn-sizing machine



(No Model.) 'a Sheet-Sheet .1.

G. F.1VIOOOM-BS. v

BROOM CORN SIZING MACHINE.

No. 517,761 Patented Apr. 3, 1894 wrmessss I INVEN'IZQR Y in: "Amman. u-moelumuq couPAm.

WASHINGTON. D c

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

"(No Model.)

G. F.1VI00OMBS. BROOM CORN SIZING MACHINE.

No. 517,761. Patented Apr. 3, 1894.

llmumu INVENTOR 4' THE NAYIONAL LIYHOGMFHING COMPANY- 3 She'ets8heet 3.-

(No Model.)

G. F. McGOMBS. v ROOM 001m SIZING MACHINE. No. 517,761. Patented Apr. 3, 1

a noun. muommme DGMPANY,

' UNITED STATES PATENT EEIoE.

GEORGE F. MOOOMBS, F ALLEGHENY, 'AssieNoR To ,THE HAND STITCH BROOM SEWING MAoHINE ooMPANY, OF rrrrsnuno, PENNSYLVANIA.

BR'OOM-CORNI-SIZING MACHINE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,761, dated April 3, 1894.

' 1 Application filed tunes, 1893. fierial No. 476,497. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern;

'Be itknown that I, GEORGE F. MoOoMBs, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and .useful Improvements in Broom-Oorn-Sizing Machines, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in machines for sorting broom corns, and has for its object a construction whereby the broom corn may be easily and quickly separated into lengths suitable for the manufacture of various sizes of brooms and Whisks, and the several sizes do I posited into their respective bins.

In general terms, the invention consists in the construction and combination substantially as hereinafter more fully described and particularly claimed. 7

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line' a, as, Fig. 2.' Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line y, (1], Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of'a portion of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the cutting mechanism, the plane of section being indicated by the line '0, 2), Fig. 4. Fig. 7 isa transverse section of the box portion of the machine, showing the adjustment'of one of the gage plates, and Fig. 8' is a sectional detail view of a portion of the adjustable gage plate.

The box 1 is divided by a series of partitions 2, into a series of bins 3, for the reception of different sizes of broom corns. At the ends of the box are secured suitable bearings 4, for the shafts 5 and 6, on which are secured a series 1 of pulleys 7 and 8, over which pass the belts 9, provided with aseries of projecting pins adapted to carry along the broom corn, as hereinafter described. The pulleys 7 and 8 are made of such a sizethat the under portions of the belts 9 will move alongin and 11, secured along the sides of the open top of the box. As shown in Fig. 2, the plate 10 is made of a uniform width and is non-adj ustably secured to the box. The plate 11 is made of varying width or provided with a series of notches of varying depth, along its in-. ner edge. As shown in Figs. 4 and 7, this plate 11 is laid loosely upon the top of the box, being held from vertical movement by means of brackets 13, provided with flanges 14, which project into slots in the ends of the plate .11. These brackets hold the plate as against vertical movement, but-permit its lateral movement toward and from the plate 10, by means of screws 15, which enter threaded openings in the'outer edge of theplate 11, and are held as against movement by brackets 16, secured to the side of the box.

On the shaft 5, and in line with the gage plate 10, are secured disks 17, provided with a series of projecting teeth and between these disksl? is secured a cutter disk 18. On a shaft19 below the shaft 5 and parallel therewith, is secured a disk 20, provided with a peripheral cutting rim 21. This. shaft 19 is free not only-to rotate in its bearings, but also to move longitudinally, so that the cutting rim 21 of the disk 20 may be held tightly against the cutting blade 18,'by the spring 22 surrounding the shaft 19, and hearing at its ends against one of the bearings of the shaft 19, and a nut or shoulder on said shaft. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the blade 18 and cutting portion 21 of the disk 20 are slightly recessed, just back of their cut ting edges, so that as such edges rub together, they will sharpen each other.

The broom corn. as brought to the factory has a longer stem than is required in the manufacture of brooms, and the straws vary in length as hereinbefore stated. In sorting the broom corn the stalks of the latter are laid on the table at the front endof the machine, in such position in front of the cutting knives that, as the broom corn is caught by the projecting teeth on the disks 17, and. also on a disk 23 on the shaft 5, the broom corn will be drawn in between the knives, and the excess thereof out off. Simultaneously, the pins or I spurs on the'belts 9 catch the broom corn and draw it along over the gage plates and 11, the stalk end resting on the continuousplate 10 and the wisp end upon the notch plate 11. As the broom corn traverses along these plates,it will reach one of the notches through which the wisp end will drop, at the .same time the stalk end will be drawn off the plate 10. Immediately below each notch in the plate 11, is located one of the bins, and at the upper-end of these bins are arranged inclined guide plates 24 and 25 against which the wisp end of the broom corn will drop first, thereby delaying the downward movement of the wisp end sufliciently to permit the stalk end to overtake it, so that the broom corns will lie properly arranged with their wisp ends outward in the bins.-

and 25, so asto retainthe broomicorns in the pockets thus formed until a large number have been collected, and then drop them en masse. These doors are connected to a common operating. rod extending to the front of:

the machine, so that they may be operated simultaneously.

It is characteristic of my improvement that the employment of fingers-or projections adjacent to the cuttingblades permits of the rotation of said blades at alower rate of speed than hasheretofore been practicable with this class of machines.

It is awellknown fact that insome years If the depth of the bins is considerable, the broom corns are liable when the broom corns grow to a greater average than in otheryears, so that a sorting machine such as described would not be capable of use at all times. But, by forming one of the gage plates in such manner as to permit of its adjustment, the machine is capable of use on all kinds of broom corn.

1 claim herein as my invention-- 1. In a broom corn sizing machine, the combination of overlapping rotating cutting blades one of said blades being recessed back of its cutting edge, a spring for holding the cutting edges of the blades in contact with each other and rotating disks provided with fingers for feeding'the broom corn between the cutting blades, substantially as set forth.

2. In a broom: corn sorting machine, the combination of overlapping rotating cutting blades,u.rotatingdisks arranged on opposite sides of one of the cuttingblades and provided with fingers overlapping the periphery of the other cutting'blade, substantially as set forth.

3. In: a. broom corn: sorting machine, the combination of. rotatingcutting blades, a series of movable fingers on one side ot' the cuttin g blades operative on the body of thebroom corn, anda series of movable fingers on the opposite side ot' thecutting blade, said series of fingers movingin unison, wherebyjthe broom corn is fed squarely to the cutting blades, substantially as set'fortl1.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE F. MoCOMBS.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WOLCOTT, E. J. SMAIL. 

